Armenia asks Turkey to take steps towards normalization

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—Armenia has asked Turkey to fulfill its responsibilities in the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process, claiming it has already demonstrated its own political will to live up to its obligations in their rapprochement.

“Armenia demonstrated political will towards normalization of ties with Turkey and expects Turkey to take a step in return,” Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said on Wednesday during a meeting with Armenian diaspora youth, members of the Miasin movement and the Return Home program, Armenian news portal Panarmenian.net reported.

Turkey and Armenia signed historic twin protocols in October of last year with the hope of bury their century-long animosity while establishing diplomatic relations and opening their long-shut border. Turkey has kept the doors closed since 1993 as a sign of solidarity with its Turkic brethren in Azerbaijan during the war over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pointing to international pressure on Turkey to ratify the protocols—currently at a standstill after Turkey pegged its ratification to the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute—Sarkisian said the whole world is urging Turkey to demonstrate political will in ratifying the protocols. “Ankara is turning a deaf ear,” Sarkisian said, “calling on Armenia to show political will.”

The most sensitive issue for Turkey within the protocols is the opening of the borders with the impoverished South Caucasian country, which was at war with Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. Azerbaijan stridently opposing the opening of the border further complicated the process.

“Despite statements by Turkish authorities, Armenia is ready to accept any expression of friendship,” Sarkisian said.

Spotlight on ANC Intern

GLENDALE—Community and Government Affairs Intern Jennifer Movsessian joins the Armenian National Committee-Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) where she is working a range of projects from civic engagement and community service to educational initiatives. As part of the program she is also serving as an extern with the Genocide Education Project, a San Francisco-based human rights education organization.

“Working with both ANC-WR and The Genocide Education Project, I am learning new ways to spread awareness and educate communities about Armenian American issues at the local, state, and national levels,” says Movsessian. “I look forward to learning more about our government by taking advantage of the August Congressional Recess and facilitating meetings between elected officials and their constituents.”

Movsessian is especially excited about her work with the Genocide Education Project. She has been researching the school curriculums of all 50 states to better understand what they teach students about human rights violations, particularly the Armenian Genocide.

Already halfway through the program, Movsessian is busy tackling several community outreach oriented projects. She is exploring ways to better connect the ANC with campus-based Armenian American fraternities and sororities. She is working with her fellow interns on a community service project with the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles. She is also helping lay the foundation to help the ANC more broadly engage Los Angeles County departments and programs.

Movsessian currently attends the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she serves as chapter Treasurer and Senate Representative of the Armenian-interest sorority, Alpha Gamma Alpha. She is also on the executive board of the UCLA Armenian Students’ Association.

She credits her experience in leadership positions, including her 4 years as Associated Student Body Class President at Glendale High School, with preparing her for the internship with ANC-WR.

Movsessian is considering careers in education or the U.S government. She is also a graduate of the ANC Glendale Internship Program and plans to remain active in both the ANC and the Armenian American community in general after completing the ANC-WR IEP, where she already serves as a teacher’s aide of Hygazoonyats Armenian School and a Sunday School volunteer of the Holy Trinity Armenian Evangelical Church.

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region is the largest Armenian American grassroots community organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR works to promote understanding regarding issues of concern to the Armenian American community.

ANCA-WR Announces its 2010 Annual Banquet

LOS ANGELES—The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region ANCA-WR) will host its 2010 Annual Banquet at the Universal Sheraton Hotel on Sunday, October 24, 2010. The event will begin with cocktail hour at 5:30 PM, followed by dinner and program at 7:00 PM.

The ANCA-WR Banquet represents the single largest annual gathering of Armenian American community activists and leaders in the Western United States. The Banquet is attended by more than a thousand benefactors, supporters, and members of the community media as well as prominent federal, state, and local officials.

During the event, the ANCA-WR also honors those who have strongly supported the organization’s cause. Previous Annual Banquet award recipients have included Senators Joe Biden and Robert Menendez, Human Rights Scholar Samantha Power, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Ronald Reagan and many other well known artists, film makers, authors and public figures.

For sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, contact the ANCA-WR Office at 818.500.1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.